A system and method for dispensing hand cleaning fluid material including a dispenser with a rechargeable battery powered by a solar generator, a remote electrically powered light source spaced from the dispenser directing light onto the solar panel of the dispenser and a control mechanism controlling the operation of the light source in relation to the status and operation of the dispenser.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method for providing for an electrically powered dispenser of hand cleaning fluid within a building, the method comprising: providing a solar element commonly mounted with the dispenser supported by the building, providing a light source wired to receive power from a building electrical power source such that light emitted from the light source is received by the solar element, generating electrical power with the solar element from the light emitted by the light source received by the solar element and providing the electrical power generated by the solar element to the dispenser; controlling the electrical power generated by the solar element by the control of the operation of the light source by wireless communication from the dispenser to the light source, the light source includes a light emitter of light, a light controller, and a wireless light communicator, controlling the operation of the light emitter with the light controller by control of the delivery of electrical power from the building electrical power source to the light emitter, the solar element and the dispenser are coupled together proximate each other and spaced from the light emitter; the dispenser comprising: a reservoir for a fluid to be dispensed, a pump to dispense the fluid from the dispenser; a dispenser controller, and a wireless dispenser communicator; controlling operation of the pump with the dispenser controller; locating the solar element and the light emitter relatively juxtapositioned spaced from each other with the light emitted by the emitter directed toward and received by the solar element, generating electrical power with the solar element from the light emitted by the light emitter received by the solar element and providing the electrical power generated to the dispenser, controlling operation of the light emitter with the dispenser controller and the light controller together controlling operation of the light emitter in relation to the status or the operation of the dispenser by wireless communication between the dispenser controller and the light controller via the wireless dispenser communicator and the wireless light communicator, the light emitter includes a mount by which the light emitter is mounted to the building, moving the light emitter to relative positions relative the mount to position the light emitter to direct the emitted light toward the solar element, monitoring with the dispenser controller the power generated by the solar element and providing feedback to assist in moving the light emitter to one of the relative positions relative the mount to position the light emitter to direct a maximum amount of light energy on the solar element.
A method for powering a hand sanitizer dispenser within a building uses a solar panel mounted near the dispenser. A light source, powered by the building's electricity, shines on the solar panel. The solar panel generates electricity to power the dispenser. The dispenser wirelessly controls the light source to regulate power generation. The light source has a light emitter, a controller, and a wireless communicator. The dispenser has a fluid reservoir, a pump controlled by a controller, and a wireless communicator. The light source is positioned to shine on the solar panel. The dispenser controller and light controller communicate wirelessly to manage light output based on the dispenser's status. The light emitter can be repositioned to maximize light on the solar panel, with the dispenser controller monitoring power generation to guide the adjustment.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the dispenser is not wired to an AC or DC building electrical source, and the dispenser is mounted to a ceiling or to a wall of the of the building at a height below the light source.
The method from the previous description has a hand sanitizer dispenser that is not wired to the building's electrical system (AC or DC). The dispenser is mounted on a ceiling or wall, below the light source. The light source provides the only power source for the dispenser via the solar panel.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dispenser is a touchless dispenser which includes a hand sensor to sense the presence of a person's hand proximate an outlet for the pump, operating the pump to dispense fluid onto the person's hand when the dispenser controller determines with the sensor the presence of a person's hand under the outlet.
In the method from the first description, the hand sanitizer dispenser is touchless. It uses a hand sensor to detect a hand near the dispensing outlet. When the sensor detects a hand, the dispenser controller activates the pump to dispense fluid. The pump dispenses fluid only when a hand is detected by the sensor.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the dispenser further includes a rechargeable power source, wherein said power generated by the one solar element charges the rechargeable power source, monitoring with the dispenser controller the status of the rechargeable power source and controlling the operation of the emitter to maintain the status of the rechargeable power source within a certain range of being fully recharged.
The touchless hand sanitizer dispenser method from the previous description uses a rechargeable battery which is charged by the solar panel. The dispenser controller monitors the battery's charge level and controls the light source to maintain the battery within a specified charge range. The dispenser increases the light output to charge the battery when the battery is low, and reduces the light output when the battery is sufficiently charged.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein controlling the operation of the light emitter having regard to information selected from information regarding the status or the operation of the dispenser; information regarding the status and operation of the light emitter, and information regarding time.
In the method from the first description, controlling the light source's operation is based on information about the dispenser's status or operation, the light source's status or operation, or the time of day. For instance, the light could dim at night or increase when the dispenser is frequently used, all managed through the wireless communication between the dispenser and the light.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dispenser further includes a rechargeable power source, wherein said power generated by the one solar element charges the rechargeable power source, monitoring with the dispenser controller the status of the rechargeable power source and controlling the operation of the emitter to maintain the status of the rechargeable power source within a certain range of being fully recharged.
The method described previously uses a hand sanitizer dispenser with a rechargeable battery which is charged by the solar panel. The dispenser controller monitors the battery's charge level and controls the light source to maintain the battery within a specified charge range. The dispenser increases the light output to charge the battery when the battery is low, and reduces the light output when the battery is sufficiently charged.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dispenser is mounted on a stand supported by a floor of the building remote from walls of the building, and the light source is mounted to a ceiling of the building above the dispenser.
In the method from the first description, the hand sanitizer dispenser is mounted on a freestanding stand on the floor, away from the building's walls. The light source is mounted on the ceiling above the dispenser. The dispenser receives power solely from the light source via the solar panel.
8. A method as claimed in claim 1 including: directing with the light emitter a beam of light through atmospheric air away from the light emitter toward the solar element within a cone about an axis passing through the light emitter, the cone defined within a divergence angle circumferentially about the axis, and a radius of the cone increasing with distance from the light emitter toward the solar element, and the divergence angle is less than 10 degrees.
In the method from the first description, the light source emits a focused beam of light towards the solar panel. This beam expands slightly, forming a cone shape with a divergence angle of less than 10 degrees. This ensures that most of the light reaches the solar panel, maximizing power generation for the dispenser.
9. A method as claimed in claim 1 including: dispensing with the pump the fluid from the dispenser downwardly out of a discharge outlet; providing a drip tray with an upwardly directed tray catch surface located below the outlet, providing a vertically extending hand space between the outlet and the drip tray above the drip tray within which a person's hands may be placed to receive fluid dispensed downwardly from the outlet, catching fluid falling downwardly from the outlet or from the person's hand located in the hand space in the drip tray, the tray catch surface permitting light incident thereon to pass through the tray catch surface, and passing the light through the tray catch surface to the solar element below the tray catch surface.
The method from the first description includes a drip tray below the dispenser's outlet to catch drips. The drip tray's surface allows light to pass through to the solar panel mounted beneath it. This enables the solar panel to still receive light even with the drip tray in place, generating power for the dispenser. The hands are placed between the outlet and the drip tray to receive dispensed fluid.
10. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light source is mounted to a ceiling of the building above the dispenser.
In the method described in the first description, the light source providing power to the solar panel is mounted to the ceiling of the building directly above the hand sanitizer dispenser.
11. A method for providing an electrically powered dispenser of hand cleaning fluid within a building, the method comprising: providing a solar element commonly mounted with the dispenser supported by the building, providing a light source wired to receive power from a building electrical power source such that light emitted from the light source is received by the solar element, generating electrical power with the solar element from the light emitted by the light source received by the solar element and providing the electrical power generated by the solar element to the dispenser; controlling the electrical power generated by the solar element by the control of the operation of the light source by wireless communication from the dispenser to the light source the light source includes a light emitter of light, a light controller, and a wireless light communicator; controlling the operation of the light emitter with the light controller by control of the delivery of electrical power from the building power source to the light emitter; the solar element and the dispenser are coupled together proximate each other and spaced from the light emitter; the dispenser comprising: a reservoir for a fluid to be dispensed, a pump to dispense the fluid from the dispenser; a dispenser controller, and a wireless dispenser communicator; controlling operation of the pump with the dispenser controller; locating the solar element and the light emitter relatively juxtapositioned spaced from each other with the light emitted by the emitter directed toward and received by the solar element, generating electrical power with the solar element from the light emitted by the light emitter received by the solar element and providing the electrical power generated to the dispenser, controlling operation of the light emitter with the dispenser controller and the light controller together controlling operation of the light emitter in relation to the status or the operation of the dispenser by wireless communication between the dispenser controller and the light controller via the wireless dispenser communicator and the wireless light communicator, a freestanding support stand with a base for engaging the floor of the building, the stand extending upwardly from the base, the solar element is mounted to the support stand, the dispenser comprising a plurality of said dispensers, each mounted to the support stand with the dispenser controller of each dispenser electrically coupled to the solar element mounted to the support stand.
A method for powering multiple hand sanitizer dispensers using a solar panel and a light source within a building is as follows: A solar panel is mounted on a freestanding stand. A light source, powered by the building's electricity, shines on the solar panel. The solar panel generates electricity to power the dispensers. Each dispenser has a fluid reservoir, a pump controlled by a controller, and a wireless communicator. The light source is positioned to shine on the solar panel. Each dispenser controller is electrically coupled to the solar panel on the stand. The light source wirelessly communicates with the dispensers to regulate power. The stand has a base that engages the floor, extending upwards to support the solar panel and multiple dispensers.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein: the solar element comprises a common element mounted to the support stand, the dispenser controller is a common controller mounted to the support stand, and the dispenser controller of each dispenser comprising at least in part the common controller.
In the method from the previous description with multiple dispensers, a single, common solar panel and a single, common controller are mounted to the stand. Each dispenser uses, at least in part, the common controller. This shared solar panel and controller provide power and control for all the dispensers.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a rechargeable common power source mounted to the support stand and coupled to said common controller, generating said power by said common element charger and delivering it to said rechargeable power source, and each dispenser controller is electrically coupled to the common power source.
The multi-dispenser system from the previous description includes a rechargeable battery on the stand, connected to the common controller. The common solar panel charges this battery. Each dispenser controller receives power from this common battery. This ensures a consistent power supply for all dispensers.
14. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the light emitter includes a mount by which the light emitter is mounted to the building, moving the light emitter to relative positions relative the mount to position the light emitter to direct the emitted light toward the solar element.
In the method from the description about multiple dispensers, the light source has a mount allowing it to be repositioned to direct the light more effectively towards the solar panel. This adjustment helps optimize the solar panel's power generation for the dispensers. The light can be moved relative to its mount to achieve the best light angle.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14 including monitoring with the dispenser controller the power generated by the solar element and providing feedback to assist in moving the light emitter to one of the relative positions relative the mount to position the light emitter to direct a maximum amount of light energy on the solar element.
The method from the description about multiple dispensers monitors the power generated by the solar panel using the dispenser controller. It provides feedback to assist in repositioning the light source for maximum light energy capture. This feedback helps in fine-tuning the light's position to optimize the system's power generation.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 1, 2015
September 12, 2017
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